VINES, HARDY AND TENDER. 75 



four to six weeks later is usually in bloom about the same time as the 

 plants raised lirom seeds sown during the end of February or beginning 

 of March; but the early sown crop is in bloom from two to three weeks 

 ahead of the others. Aside from early flowering nothing is gained, for 

 it cannot be said that the plants are stronger or better able to with- 

 stand warm and dry weather. In this vicinity it is impossible for the 

 plants to continue in health during the very warm weather. In more 

 Northern latitudes the season is much longer. To have the plants in a 

 flowering state for as long a time as possible they should be mulched 

 and watered, choosing the most airy stretch of ground for their 

 cultivation. Plants for blooming indoors should be sown just as soon 

 as the weather gets a little cool. They may either be sown in their per- 

 manent positions, or in pots, and planted out where they are to bloom. 

 There is a very large number of varieties grown for the retail seed trade; 

 but six varieties at the very most are quite enough for the production of 

 cut blooms. 



Supports for Sweet Peas— Sweet Pea vines should never be allowed 

 to tumble to one side from their own weight through lack of a suitable 

 support. The most natural supports are branches of trees, about 4 or 

 5 feet long, stuck in on each side of the row. The plants are provided 

 with tendrils which cling to the small twigs of the branches. A quicker 

 method, the results of which are not quite so satisfactory, is to have 

 strong sticks driven in at intervals of a few feet along the rows, with 

 twine or wire fastened to them. Wire netting of a pretty wide mesh, 

 when properly adjusted, makes the best support. It is the most expen- 

 sive at first, but in the long run the cheapest, as it can be taken care of 

 to last for years. Perhaps the best method of using the wire netting is 

 to stretch it fastened to iron supports between two rows of peas, thinly 

 sown, each row about 12 or 18 inches apart. 



LONICERA SEMPERVIRENS (Woodbine) is a most beautiful native 

 species; the flowers are dark red and yellow. There are several varieties; 

 one has pale yellow flowers. L. caprifolium, flowers yellowish, large. L. 

 Periclymenum is the common English Honeysuckle. It is a very strong 

 growing vine and exceedingly fragrant. L. japonica produces flowers 

 dull red and white; very fragrant; a most profuse bloomer. L. Hal- 

 leana, the flowers of this species open pure white, changing to a dull 

 yellow; when the plants get suflicient moisture they continue blooming 

 all Summer. L. brachypoda aureo-reticulata is a weak grower if not 

 planted in good soil. It is grown for its beautifully marked foliage, 

 which is netted with yellow. L. Heckrotii, a species with glaucous foli- 

 age and very handsome reddish pink flowers, blooms continuously from 

 near midsummer. All the kinds root freely from ripe wood after mid- 

 summer. 



HANETTIA CORDIFOLIA— One of the handsomest of the low-growing 

 flowering vines, growing about 4 feet in a season, and covered from 

 midsummer on with bright red tubular flowers. It is almost hardy in 

 the District of Columbia, surviving ordinary Winters with the protection 

 of some litter thrown over the crowns. Green cuttings are not very 

 easily rooted, nor does the plant give an abundance of material for this 



